NEW ESA TV EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
THE COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME
INDUSTRY IN EUROPE
 Europeans are passionate about computer and video games. The continent is a fast-growing market, almost equal to sales in North America. The United Kingdom accounts for 30 percent of total sales, closely followed by Germany and France. Together, the U.S. and European markets represent 80 percent of the total world market. The second episode of ESAtv, "Gaming in Europe", examines what makes the European gaming industry unique and the role it plays in shaping the global computer and video game industry.
Filmed recently during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, the ESAtv episode features insights into industry trends from Mark Beaumont, chief operating officer of Capcom North America; Martin Lindell, with the Swedish Games Industry; and Jens Uwe Intat, general manager of European publishing at EA Games.
The online video is part of the ESA's monthly series that provides viewers with compelling and informative content about the computer and video game industry.
Tune into ESAtv at http://www.theesa.com/esa-tv/
ESA FOUNDATION TO HONOR YVES GUILLEMOT, CHAIRMAN AND
CEO OF UBISOFT, AT THE 2009
"NITE TO UNITE FOR KIDS"
 The ESA Foundation is honoring Yves Guillemot, chairman and CEO of Ubisoft, as the 2009 ESA Champion at this year's "Nite to Unite for Kids" gala, the computer and video game industry's annual charity event.
In 1986, Guillemot made his vision of an entertainment software company into a reality by creating Ubisoft in partnership with his four brothers. More than two decades later, his business skills and desire to expand the interactive gaming experience have propelled Ubisoft into an entertainment software industry leader. Today, the company is the fourth largest independent publisher in the U.S. and the creator of numerous blockbuster franchises including Assassin's Creed®, Prince of Persia®, Rayman®, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell®, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon®.
"Yves saw the potential of computer and video games long before most and worked diligently to translate that vision into reality," said Michael Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association. "His company, named in reference to 'ubiquity' for his ambition to make games worldwide has not only achieved that goal, but surpassed it."
Guillemot joins a renowned list of past ESA Champion Honorees and entertainment software industry leaders including George Lucas, famed director and founder of LucasArts; GameStop's Dan DeMatteo; and Electronic Arts' Bing Gordon, to name a few.
Since its inception in 1999, "Nite to Unite for Kids," presented by the ESA and hosted by the ESA Foundation, has raised over $11 million for children's charities. For information on this year's "Nite to Unite for Kids" event, click here.
GAME INDUSTRY THRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS
The computer and video game business is booming in the Bay State.
That is the finding of a report released last month by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. The group says that the entertainment software industry contributes over $2 billion to the state's economy and is still growing. That business translates directly into jobs, as the industry employs over 1,200 technology professionals. The Council predicts the job growth to increase by 20 percent this year alone.
The computer and video game industry did not spring up in the Commonwealth overnight. The group surveyed over 30 firms involved in game production and found that over half have been in Massachusetts for over five years. In addition, the Bay State's colleges and universities are doing their part to prepare the next generation of game designers. Fifteen of the state's schools, including Boston University, Worcester Polytechnic University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offer programs in video game design and digital visual media.
The computer and video game industry is receiving recognition and support from elected officials for its contributions to the local economy. Governor Deval Patrick declared September 9, 2009 as Video Game Innovation Day in Massachusetts, the same day as the release of the widely anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band, which was developed in Massachusetts by Cambridge-based Harmonix Music Systems for MTV Games. "The digital gaming industry is on fire in Massachusetts – one of the fastest growing sectors in technology and entertainment in the country," said Governor Patrick. "I am committed to supporting this and other creative economy industries, for the job opportunities they create and for what they do to elevate Massachusetts' strengths as a center of technology innovation."
Massachusetts has a history of innovation with games. In September 2008, the Center for Science Education in Boston was tasked with investigating how video games can be used in middle school classrooms as part of a $9.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Center is helping to create a year-long curriculum for 7th grade science students centered around a set of games on the Nintendo DS handheld console called Super Sleuths. The curriculum will offer teachers and students in-depth explorations of scientific problems while using the game's features to keep students' attention.
In 2007, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office worked with the ESA Foundation, the video game industry's charitable organization, to launch the Web Wise Kids youth internet safety program in over 200 schools and reaching over 149,000 students across the state. In May 2009, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) partnered with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to launch a major TV, radio and transit public service announcement campaign. The PSAs featured the Mayor promoting parental awareness about and the use of video game ratings when deciding what games are suitable and age-appropriate for children to play. |
